A Rogers County jury finds a man guilty of first degree murder today and recommends life in prison without parole.
WHO: Jericho Haverstick
Eliza Arthurs was 22 years old on April 19th, 2023, when Jericho Haverstick shot her through the head as she sat on the ground in a secluded field.
He used a 9mm handgun he’d purchased nine days earlier.
Eliza told him she didn’t want to marry him and didn’t want to be with him anymore.
Haverstick left her on a mound of dirt covered in ants, gasping for breath while he drove around for more than half an hour.
Eventually, he called 911 saying she’d been shot by an unknown man.
The dispatcher asked if the victim was breathing and if he would try CPR, but Haverstick said she was not breathing.
The jury listened to the call and could hear Eliza’s panicked, gasping breaths on the recording.
When first responders arrived, Haverstick would not open the gate into the field where she lay dying, so, emergency workers had to climb the fence to get to her.
Her family and friends were devastated as they listened to the final moments of Eliza’s life being described in court.
Rogers County District Attorney Matt Ballard told the jury,
“Eliza Arthurs had every right to break up with Haverstick and go live the rest of her life without him.
Without suffering violence. But he wouldn’t let her.”
“On behalf of Mr. Haverstick, we are disappointed in the outcome of this trial. While we greatly appreciate the jury’s time and attention to this case, we truly feel that the result was far removed from the actual evidence presented by the State.
Just an example, the M.E. stated that they did not see any recognizable ant bites which wholly contradicts and undermines a basic fact and testimony of the first responders.
Moreover, the statement that you could hear Ms. Arthurs’ “panicked” breaths on the 911 call is completely contradictory to the testimony of the Medical Examiner.
For those, and many other reasons, we respectfully disagree with the characterization of facts and testimony at trial and anticipate an appeal.”
She leaves behind a 3-year-old son.
Eliza’s family thanked the jurors for their work and shook their hands as they left the courtroom.
This is now a conviction.
